Bouncer killed in Sunday shooting at Havelock bar

By Sue Book, Sun Journal Staff

Published: Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 02:54 PM.

HAVELOCK — An 18-year-old high school student retaliating after being kicked out of a local bar returned with a pistol early Sunday morning and killed the head bouncer and injured five patrons in a spray of gunfire and bullet fragments, investigators said.

Jonathan Richard Pugh, 18, of Havelock, faces an open count of murder in connection with the shooting death of Todd North, 39, of Havelock, both Acting Havelock Police Chief David Bratton and District Attorney Scott Thomas said at a Sunday afternoon press conference.

The shootings, which put three or four .40 caliber bullet wounds into North and a single .45 caliber bullet into Pugh’s gut, happened after a fight in Flyers bar at 400 Fontana Blvd. early Sunday.

Based on information gathered so far in the investigation, Thomas and Bratton said North was working as the head bouncer at Flyers when Pugh, an 11th-grade student from Havelock High School, came with two drinking-age men earlier in the night.

Thomas said the investigation shows that “Pugh got into a fight, and he and one man with him were escorted by North and another bouncer into the parking lot where some additional words were exchanged.”

“He apparently calmed down and left the parking lot in a car, but shortly afterward came back, walked to the door and started firing,” the district attorney said. “North fired back, attempting to keep Pugh from entering the bar, but was shot three or four times. His body will undergo an autopsy on Monday.”

HAVELOCK — An 18-year-old high school student retaliating after being kicked out of a local bar returned with a pistol early Sunday morning and killed the head bouncer and injured five patrons in a spray of gunfire and bullet fragments, investigators said.

Jonathan Richard Pugh, 18, of Havelock, faces an open count of murder in connection with the shooting death of Todd North, 39, of Havelock, both Acting Havelock Police Chief David Bratton and District Attorney Scott Thomas said at a Sunday afternoon press conference.

The shootings, which put three or four .40 caliber bullet wounds into North and a single .45 caliber bullet into Pugh’s gut, happened after a fight in Flyers bar at 400 Fontana Blvd. early Sunday.

Based on information gathered so far in the investigation, Thomas and Bratton said North was working as the head bouncer at Flyers when Pugh, an 11th-grade student from Havelock High School, came with two drinking-age men earlier in the night.

Thomas said the investigation shows that “Pugh got into a fight, and he and one man with him were escorted by North and another bouncer into the parking lot where some additional words were exchanged.”

“He apparently calmed down and left the parking lot in a car, but shortly afterward came back, walked to the door and started firing,” the district attorney said. “North fired back, attempting to keep Pugh from entering the bar, but was shot three or four times. His body will undergo an autopsy on Monday.”

Pugh got in his car and drove away.

Havelock Police responded about 1:13 a.m. Sunday to the call of shots fired at Flyers bar and secured the scene as Havelock EMS Paramedics arrived and began to treat the wounded.

North was transported to CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern for further treatment, but died later.

Meanwhile, Pugh is recovering at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

First Responders from Cherry Point, Craven Rescue 20, Newport and Morehead City assisted with those injured, which Thomas said included two people hit directly and three others hit with bullet fragments.

Craven County Sheriff’s deputies are assisting Havelock Police in the investigation.

Havelock Police and the Craven County Sheriff’s Department have recovered two handguns, and Thomas said five shell casings and bullet fragments were recovered that appeared to match those from Pugh’s gun.

“He still had the gun on him when he was caught,” Thomas said. “Apparently after discovering he was really injured, he started banging on doors for someone to call 911.”

Bratton said, “Because the investigation is continuing — we have a lot of canvassing and interviews still to conduct — we are not releasing the names of the other victims.”

Thomas said, “Based on the ongoing investigation, we do anticipate additional charges in this case.”